“Only let the darkness inside her that she fears also be the darkness of infinite gentleness, the mouth for killing the same mouth that carries the babies safely away.”

“Then I bring my lips very gently to hers and--without biting--let the whole world disappear into the dark magic of her mouth.”

“She was darkness and he was darkness and there had never been anything before this time, only darkness and his lips upon her. She tried to speak and his mouth was over hers again. Suddenly she had a wild thrill such as she had never known; joy, fear, madness, excitement, surrender to arms that were too strong, lips too bruising, fate that moved too fast.”

“She looked away, meeting Taka's dark, pitiless gaze. Silently, he mouthed something unbelievable. She was sure it was, "I love you.”

“The gentleness of his mouth on hers surprised her, the slow caress of his lips and tongue not unlike the waves below them. She curved her hand around the back of his neck and let herself float on the rhythm, let her fears drift and her body take over.”

“Away from the bright motion of the party, she carried her sadness like a dark stone clenched in her palm.”